Lucy produces a greasy paper bag and hands it to me. I don’t need to open it to know what’s inside. I’d recognize that buttery scent from a mile away. Even though it smells heavenly, I’m anything but hungry.
“How are you feeling?” Anouk asks as I tear off a piece of the croissant and pop it in my mouth. At least it gives me something to do.
Audrey winces behind her. She knows how I’m feeling better than anyone else. Tears roll down my cheeks, doing the talking for me.
“No, no, no!” Lucy says, sitting on my bed and grabbing my hand. “You know, my cousin broke her collarbone a few years ago, and she’s running marathons again.”
“Yes,” Anouk adds. “With a good physical therapist…”
“I’ll go back in time and attend my audition with ABT?” I ask.
“I’m sorry, Mia,” Anouk replies, looking contrite. “I didn’t mean to…I know this sucks.”
“Yep,” I say, letting out a bitter laugh through my tears.
“But youwilldance again,” Lucy says, rubbing my hand.
I know it comes from a good place, but I’m not strong enough to take it. Still, I try to sound lighthearted. “When do you all go home?”
“Now,” Anouk says, checking her watch. “But we wanted to see you one last time.”
“Thank you for coming,” I say. “It means a lot.”
“I’m sorry we can’t stay any longer,” Lucy says with a guilty smile. “I’ll miss you almost as much as I’ll miss Paris.”
Lucy giggles at her own joke, but all I can manage is a weak smile.
Paris.I just want to forget that I was ever in this city, just a few steps away from my lifelong dream. Until a car crashed through it.
“Hey, girls, do you mind if I talk to Mia for a moment?” Audrey asks suddenly. She’s been sitting at the foot of the bed, quietly waiting.
Lucy and Anouk exchange a look and get up. They both hug me and promise to stay in touch. Tears fill my eyes again as it dawns on me that this is how my summer of ballet is ending. Not just in a hospital, but also ripped away from my friends a little too soon.
After they leave the room, Audrey comes to sit closer. “Does it hurt?” she asks, shuffling uncomfortably.
“My collarbone? Yeah, a little. But the rest…” I trail off. I don’t need to say it. She knows I would take the physical pain over the devastation of missing my chance with ABT any day.
“I’m really sorry, Mia. I was in shock when I found out. I’d never wish…”
“I know,” I say.
Audrey bites her bottom lip, then looks up at me with a heavy sigh. “Listen, I wanted you to hear it from me….”
She pauses. My breath turns ragged.
“ABT offered you an apprenticeship, and I bet the Bolshoi Ballet did as well,” I say. Audrey got all of the auditions. And of course she knocked them out of the park.
Audrey’s face wrinkles. “I’m going to ABT.”
I nod, trying to inhale deeply. I need to be brave.
“I wish you would come, too. It would be so great if we did this together.” It’s hard to believe, but she sounds genuine. This summer has definitely changed us both.
“You deserve this, Audrey. I’m happy for you.” And strangely, I mean it.
Her bottom jaw quivers, and, for a moment, I think she’s going to cry. Instead, she does something even more surprising. “I’m scared,” she says. “My mom was pretty mad that I didn’t pick the Bolshoi Ballet, but that’s not just it. I’m terrified to mess it up. What if I get to ABT and I’m just nowhere near as good as all the other dancers?”
I let out a laugh.
